Cotton unloader and cleaner



Jan. 9,1923.

1. L. HART.

conow UNLOADER'ANDCLEANER.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

ORIGINALFILED AUG-7,1915.

mgwssm; ,Q/

J. L, HART.

COTTON UNLOADER AND CLEANER.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ORIGINAL FILED AUG-7,1915.

wagon or the like.

Patented Jan. 9, 1923.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH LUTHER HART, 0F GHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA.

COTTON UNLOADER AND CLEANER.

Applicatioh filed August 7, 1915, Serial No. 44,226. Renewed June 19,1922. Serial No. 569,324.

To all whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. HART, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chickasha, in the county of Grady and State of Oklahoma,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cotton Unloadersand Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in cotton unloading and cleaningapparatus,'and the invention has for its object to provide mechanism ofthe character specified, adapted to be arranged in a gin house or thelike, wherein mechanism is provided for unloading the cotton and passingit to a place of storage, and wherein a plurality of cleaning mechanismsis provided, together with means for handling the cotton with fluidunder pressure, and so arranged that the cotton may pass from the gin'house to the place of storage without cleaning, or the-cotton may besubjected to a slngle cleansing operation or a double cleansingoperation, while in either case it is necessary to handle the cotton butonce.

In the drawings:

I Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the entire mechanism;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the cleaning mechanism; a I

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking 'in thedirection of the arrow adjacent to the line, and

Figure 4 is a vertical modified construction. 7

The present embodiment "of the lnventioncomprises a plurality ofcleaners, llldlcated generally at 1 and 1, and to be later described indetail, the casing of the cleaning mechanism 1 having aninlettelescoping pipe 2. for drawing the cotton from a This casing is alsoprovided with anoutlet pipe 5, which is connected at its outer end withthe small end of a reducing union 6, and pipes 9 and 18 are connectedwith the large end of the reducing union.

The pipe 9 is a telescoping pipe, and leads to a suitable source ofdischarge. The pipe 18 is arched as shown, and the end remote from theunion 6 is connected with the large end of a reducing-union 13, whosesmall end is connected with the inlet of the casing of the cleaningmechanism 1.

A pipe 15 is also connected with the large end of the union 13, and theouter end of section through a the pipe 15 1s connected to the small endof a union 17 Pipes 20 and 21 are connected with the'large end of thisunion 17,and valves are arranged in the respective unions 6, 13 and 21,for cutting oif either pipe connected with the large end of the unionfrom" the pipe connected with the small end of the union.

The valves in the union 6, have oppositely extending operating arms 7and 8, and flexible members, as for instance, cords or wires areconnected with the respective arms, a flexible member 10 being connectedwith the arm 7, while a flexible member 11 .is connected with the arm 8.By pulling the proper cord, either pipe 9 or 18 may be cut oif from thepipe 5.

The valves in the union 13 have arms 22 and 23 respectively, to whichare connected flexible members 24 and 25, and either valve may beoperated by pulling the proper cord. The union 17 also has valves, whichhave arms 26 and 27, and flexible members 28 and 29 are connected withthe arms. The operation ofthese'valves is the -same as the valvescohnected with the arms 7, 8, 22 and 23.

The arrangement is 2 from the wagon, or other place of supply, into thecleaner casing 1, and from this may pass by way of the pipe 9 to theplace of storage, or by way of the pipe 18 to the casing 1% for a secondcleaning operation. When it is desired to use the cleaners 1 and 1independently of each other, the valves are arranged to cut ofl the pipe18 from both casings 1 and 1*, that is, from both unions 6 and 13, andto permit the cotton to discharge through the pipe 9. The cotton nowfeeds by way of the pipe 2 to the cleaner 1 and is discharged by way ofthe pipe 9.

' The cleaner 1 may be fed through the pipe such that the cotton may bedrawn through the telescoping pipe are connected together and with theinlet and outlet ports, but a single cleanerwvill be described, and thesaid cleaner is shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3.

A screen 40 1s arranged longitudinally of the casing, dividing the saidLeasing into two compartments, and the screen is archedto correspond tothe casing. The screen ex= tends the entire width of the casing andconsists of a hub 64 having radial bladesfrom the inlet end to near theoutlet end. and at the inlet end the adjacent end of the screen isarranged just above the inlet 39.

Abar 41 is arranged transversely of the casing at the inner end of thescreen, and the said inner end of the screen is connected with the bar.At this point a shaft 42 is journaled transversely of the casing, andthe --concave side of the casing is shaped or curved coaxial with theshaft. The casing is branched at this point, to form an outlet 43, forthe compartment above the screen 40, and an outlet 44 for the compartment below the screen, and the shaft 42 is arranged just above theoutlet 44.

The shaft 42 supports a feeding cylinder 45 which is secured to theshaft and 65. The casing between the branches 43 and 44 has a re-entrantportion 46, the inner end of which is spaced apart from the .bar 41, anda screen 47 is arranged" between I thefbar and the re-entrant portion,the

screen being curved on an arc whose center is the shaft 42.

A discharge trunk 48 is arranged reotlyv below the shaft 42, and pipes49 lead from the opposite ends of the trunk. A casing 50 is arrangedbetween the trunk 48'and' the casing 38, and-the branch 44 of the casingcommunicates with and opens into the upper end of the casing 58, and thelower end of the casing 50 is provided with a lateral branch 51, and acurved screen 58 is arranged in vertical position between the branch 51and the body of the casing, the blast from the fan, through '48 and 49driving the dust and dirt not removed through the screen 40 out to theopen space through 51 and not to any fan.

A cleaning cylinder 52- is 'journaled transversely of the casing 50, andhas its axis parallel with the shaft 42, and the cylinder cooperateswith the screen 58. The shaft 53 and the shaft 42 of the cleaningcylinder are extended beyond their respective In the cleaner casing 1,the pipe 2 is connected' with the inlet 39, and a suitable exhaust fan(not shown) is connected with the outlet 43 of the compartment above thescreen. The ipe 5 is connected to the trunk '48, or one o the pipes 49.In the casing 1 the trunk 48 is connected to a pipe leading to the placeof storage, and ifdesired .the cotton may be fed directly to the cleanercasing 1, by way'of the pipe 15.

In 0 eration, the cotton or bolls passes throug pipe2 by air pressure tocleaner casing 1, and the cotton passes down against I the screen 40 and47. The air passes through screen 40 and 47 and out through tube 43 tosuction fan, (not shown). The cottonor bolls after passing screen 40 and47 is fed by flange feed cylinder 45 down into casing 50 and ontocylinder 52 and against screen 58. Cylinder 52 carries the cottondownward against screen 58, with considerable force, while the airpressure caused by the discharge of the suction fan (not shown) ispressing against and through screen 58 and the cotton as itipasses downagainst screen 58, driven also by .force oii cylinder, 52 agalnst screen58 assisted by the air pressure is cleaned. The dirt, trash and otherforeign matter is forced out through the' screen 58 and carried to itsdestination through pipe 51 by the force of the air.- The cotton aftercleaning is passed on down by the force of the cylinder 52 into trunk49, and carried by the exhaust air from suction fan, (not shown) outthrough pipe 5 to its place of storage or to a second cleaner of asimilar kind or any other cleaner or vacuum box through pipe 18.

If desired, the cotton may be passed to the place of storage,'byproperly'manipulating the valves in the unlon 6.' If it is de-,

sired to subject the cotton to asecond cleaning, the valve in the pipe 9is clo'sed,-an'd the valve in the pipe 18 isopened. The valves areordinary gate valves, audit will be evident that the cotton "may bethoroughly,

cleaned before it is ginned.

The removal of the heavier trash is brought about by the toothedcylinder 52 and the screen 58. The exhaust air passes around thecleaning cylinder'52 and through the cotton, thus blowing out all of theim purities.

- It will be noted that the airpressure moves.

in the directionof the arrows in Figure 3,

the pressure being approximately the same in the pipes 43; 51 and 49.The flow of the. cotton below the screen 40 to the cleaning cylindersis, howevenassisted 'not only by near gravity but by the operation ofthefeeding fingers.

In Figure 4L is shown a modified construction of cleaner, wherein thecleaners 68, 69 take the place of the cleaner 52 while the other partsshown in Figure 3, including elements 42-64-65 must still remain inorder to separate the suction and blast ends of the fan. In thisconstruction the cotton enters over a breaker bar 73, which isadjustably mounted for movement toward and from a toothed cylinder, 68journaled in the casing 67 The breaker bar is supported by a cross bar75 and handled screws 74 are threaded through the bar 7 5 and arerotatably connected to the breaker bar. It will be evident that by meansofthe' cranks the bar may be adjusted toward and from the cylinder. Asecond toothed cylinder 69 is arranged below and behind the cylinder 68,and the dischar e pipe 48 corresponding to the pipe 48 of igure 3 isbelow and behind the cylinder 69. Curved screens 70 and 71 are supportedadjacent to the c linders .68 and 69 by'means of cross bars 2, and theoutlet for the dust 76 is on the opposite sides of the screens from theoutlet 48 for the cotton. With this construction the cotton isthoroughly cleaned by the toothed cylinders in co-operation with thescreens and the breaker bar, the dust passing out through the outlet 76,while the cleaned cotton passes out at the pipe 48.

I-claim: 1. In a cotton cleaner of the character specified, a pluralityof cleaner casings, an

.inlet pipe leading to one of the casings, a

delivery pipe leading from the said casing and branchlng at its outerend, a pipe leading from one branch to a place of storage, a pipeleading from the other branch to the second cleaner casing, valves inthe branches, an inlet pipe for the other casing and having branches atits outer end, one of the branches being connected with the last namedpipe, an inlet pipe connected with the other branch, and valves forcontrolling the branches, said last named inlet pipe having branches,and valves for controlling the branches.

2. A cotton cleaner of the character specifi'ed, comprising incombination with the pipes for conveying the cotton from the receivingstation to the place of storage, and the fluid pressure controlled meansfor moving the cotton through the pipes, of cleaning mechanisminterposed in the length of sa1d pipes for cleaning the cotton duringtransit, said cleaning means comprising a casing having an inlet at oneendand a plurality of outlets at the other end, a screen arrangedbetween the inlet and one of the outlets, and extending longitudinallyof the casing, a

feeding cylinder arranged between the cas-.

ing and the last named outlet, a cleaning cylinder to which the feedingcylinder delivers, a casing for the cylinder having a lateral brunch andan'outlet, and a screen between the branch and the casing, said screencooperating with the cleaning cylinder.

3. A cotton cleaner comprising a plurality of cleaners, each of the saidcleaners having an inlet for the cotton and the cicaner having abranched outlet, one of the branches leading to a place of storage andthe other leading to the second cleaner, valves ror controlling theinlets and outlets, and fluid pressure controlled means for moving thecotton through the cleaners, the inlets and the outlets.

4. In a cotton unloader and cleaner of the class described, a pluralityof cleaner casings, an inlet pipe leading to one of the casings, adelivery pipe leading from the sa1d casing. and branching at its outerend, a pipe leading from one branch to a place of storage, a pipeleading from the other branch to the second cleaner casing, valves inthe branches, for independently opening or closing the same, and aninlet pipe for the other casing and connected with the last named 1 e. PIn a cotton unloader and cleaner of the class described, a plurality o fcleaner, casings, an inlet pipe leading to one of the easings, adelivery pipe leading from the said casing and branching at its outerend, a pipe leading from one branch to a place of storage, a pipeleading from the other branch to the second. cleaner casing, valves inthebranches for independently opening or'closing the same, and an inletpipe for the other casing and connected with the last named pipe, saidinlet pipe havingbranches at its outer end.

6. In a cotton unloader and cleaner .of the class described, a pluralityof cleaner casings, aninlet pipe leading to one of the casings, adelivery pipe leading from the said casing and branching at its'outerend, a pipe leading from one branch to a lace of stora e, a pipe leadingfrom the ot rbranch to tlie second cleaner casing, valves in thebranches for independently opening or closing the same, an inlet pipefor the other caspipes; of cleaning mechanisn. interposed in the lengthof said pipes for cleaning the cotton during transit, said cleaningmeans comprising a casing having an inlet at one end and a plurality ofoutlets at the other end, a

screen arranged between the inlet and one of the outlets and extendinglongitudinally of the casing, said last named outlet being adapted forconnection with a suction fan, a feeding cylinder arranged in the casingand the last named outlet, a cleaning cylinder to which the feedingcylinder delivers, a casing for the cylinder having a lateral branch andan outlet, and a screen between the branch and the casing, said screencooperating with the cleaning cylinder, the

branch andoutlet of the casing being adapted to be connected withexhaust or suction fans.

y 9. A combined unloader, cleaner and boll breaker, comprising incombination-with the pipes for conveying the cotton from the receivingstation to the place of storage and the fluid suction controlled meansfor moving the cotton through the pipes; of cleaning mechanisminterposed in the length of said pipes for cleaning the cotton duringtransit, said cleaning means comprising a casing having an inlet at oneend and a plurality of outlets at the other end, a screen arrangedbetween the inlet and one of the outlets, and extending longitudinallyof the casing, the last named outlet being adapted for connection withvasuction fan, and a feeding cylinder arranged between the casing and thelast named outlet. V

10. In-a combined unloader, cleaner and boll breaker, the combinationwith pipes or like conveying means for conveying the cotton from thereceiving station to the place of storage and fluid pressure controlledmeans for moving the cotton through the pipes, of aplurality of cleaningmechanisms interposed in the length of said pipes for cleaning thecotton during transit, and means for controlling said pipes whereby tocause the cotton to be discharged without passing through said cleaningmechanism, to pass through one of said cleaning mechanisms, or to passthrough a plurality or all of said mechanisms for discharge tothe placeof storage.

JOSEPH LUTHER HART.

